Google adds bicycling directions to maps

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 (Updated 8:14 am)
By The Associated Press

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) — Google Inc. is adding a bike lane with its latest online mapping option.

The new bicycling directions available on Google Maps starting Wednesday supplement the guidance already provided to motorists and pedestrians. The biking directions initially will be available only for the United States.

Google spent the past six months tweaking its mapping service so it could recommend routes that would steer bicyclists away from big hills and heavily congested streets. The feature can be used to pinpoint bicycling trails in more than 150 cities.

Bike directions already have been available on some smaller Web sites, but Google is the first major Internet mapping service provider to add the option.

Google's mapping service already is the most popular in the U.S., with more than 55 million visitors in February, according to comScore. MapQuest, owned by AOL Inc., ranked second with more than 36 million visitors.

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It's about frikn' time! Now we have somewhere to point people when they ask the "how do I get here" question.

Good on Google for doing this.

Yep.... shaunpark noticed last night.

Kinda cool, but also shows how poor bicycle infrastructure is in the suburbs.

Cool...but also a bummer as well as its not available everywhere yet. They have head offices in most countries, I don't get why there is a delay

For those of us living where Google doesn't cover, there is an alternative, the OpenStreetMap-based OpenCycleMap (https://www.opencyclemap.org/). For route suggestions, YourNavigation might be of use (https://www.yournavigation.org/). It's a wiki map, so if you see problems you can fix them yourself, right away.

It can also be useful for those who live in Google's coverage area. For example, you can use the OpenStreetMap data to generate a Garmin-compatible map with MUPs and other non-road ways in your area!

Actually, I would regard showing how poor bicycle infrastructure is as one of the things that's cool about this feature.

I tried using it and it directed me to use the Interstate. I do believe I would be killed, and I would blame it on Google!

How could you blame Google? You'd be dead!

I saw an article about all the problems in NYC with the Google Bike maps. Whatever. It's Beta. I don't live in NYC, but I already submitted 3 corrections for my own area. That's how this thing will improve. It's real easy to submit a correction. I think they'll be busy for a while.

Yeah, I've got a correction already to submit from the bit I've played around with it. Having submitted suggestions for corrections to walking and driving directions, I can tell you they are responsive to them and do update the maps fairly quickly (i.e., w/in a couple weeks).

If everyone will contribute some corrections, I am sure that Google Maps for bicyclists will fully improve. I guess everyone would want that right? Actually, I’ve tried a trail in LA and it’s nice cycling with this guide.

I tried it out. Google's map came pretty close to matching the route I take, except it obviously can't account for miscellaneous detours.